Prayer through hard times

“As a child of God, you ought to expect God to answer your prayers. Do you ask God to do something without adjusting your life to what you are praying? If you are praying for revival, how are you preparing for its coming? If you are praying for forgiveness, are you still living with guilt? If you have asked God to provide for your needs, do you remain worried and anxious? Ask God to increase your faith, and then begin living a life that reflects absolute trust in Him.” Henry Blackaby

Dear intercessors,

We all want God to answer our prayers. We believe in the power of prayer, but when it comes down to our own individual lives and our own problems, we often don’t have the faith to believe God will answer. The times we are living in are difficult. We are often trapped by our unbelief and fear, but God is preparing us for the end-time harvest. He wants to enlarge our territory. He wants to bless us with increase, because His nature is to care and bestow divine favor on us.

We are the ones who limit Him because of our lack of trust and our fear of stepping out in faith. The truth is that the things we do for God should be outside of our own ability and should be trusting in His supernatural ability. When we back away from dependence and trust in God, we are not living by faith. He wants us to trust and obey His Word. He wants us to be strong and courageous. We need to be willing to attempt things big enough that unless God’s steps in, we are sure to fail. This is the kind of trust and dependence He is looking for in our life. We need not be shaken. He can break through every obstacle. He is the God of the impossible!

A Prayer for Trusting God in Hard Times

Lord, I thank You that You are the God of the impossible. You can do anything. I want to trust in Your ability and not my own. Teach me to see difficulties in my life from Your perspective. Help me to focus on You and Your power. I want to be like Joshua and Caleb who believed in a good report and focused on You even in hard circumstances (Numbers 14:7-9). My responsibility is to carefully read, trust, and obey Your Word. Today I bring before You this difficulty in my life . Help me not to fear but to trust You in this situation. I declare my faith in Your ability to fulfill Your promises to me. You will fight for me and win the battles in my life. You are mighty, powerful, righteous and true.  

I have nothing to fear with You on my side. I will be strong and courageous even in hard times. I will not be terrified or discouraged, for the Lord my God will be with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:9). You will never leave me or forsake me (Joshua 1:5). I do not need to figure everything out. You already know the best plan for my life. I will not try any man-made method to do only what You can do. Show me Your supernatural power. Teach me how to walk by faith and pray breakthrough prayers. I choose to have faith in Your ability to break through every obstacle in my life. Just like Joshua, You will give me the land and every place where my feet step (Joshua 1:3). “Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever” (Psalm 44:5-8).
 

“Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:5-11). In Jesus name, amen.“Faith does the impossible because it lets God undertake for us, and nothing is impossible for God. How great – without qualification or limitation – the power of faith is! If doubt can be banished from the heart and unbelief is made a stranger there, what we ask from God will surely come to pass. Prayer throws faith on God and God on the world. Only God can move mountains, but faith and prayer move God.”

Together in the Harvest,
 
Debbie Przybylski
Intercessors Arise International
International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC)

[email protected]

www.crosswalk.com

Prayer during hard times is key to spiritual growth. If you are going to make it through your trial it’s going to take every ounce of faith you have. There will be days when you want to quit, days when you think you are going to lose your mind, and days when you are sure you have reached your limit.

As long as we are on this side of heaven there will be trials and hard times. God is always there but sometimes we feel alone on the journey.

I have personal experience walking through each of these four stages of spiritual growth. The times I’ve spent in prayer during hard times have been the seasons where my faith grew the most. It has not been easy but it has always been well worth the pain and struggles. I like to think of this journey like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.

I’m going to use the life cycle of a butterfly to describe each of the stages of spiritual growth. Let’s see where you may be in your journey.

Before the Journey Begins

You are living life unaware of how hard things really are. Yes, you are struggling with a few things but that’s just a part of life. One day you are doing just fine and the next a spilled cup of cereal sends you over the edge. It’s like the rug has been pulled out from under you and you never saw it coming.

This is typically the point where you begin to try to fix things for yourself. Things can’t really be all that bad; it’s just a bad day or week. If you just figure out where you went wrong then you can correct it and get back on course. There’s just one problem. The more you try to make things right the worse they get.

This is usually the point where you realize you are in over your head. You know that you need to focus on praying during this hard time but you aren’t sure where to start. You aren’t sure how to pray or if God is even listening. You spend a lot of time telling God that you’re giving things over to Him but you also spend just as much time taking them back.

Eventually, you get to the point where you just can’t take it anymore. There’s nothing more you can do so you give up. When you reach your breaking point that’s when God can finally step in and take over.

This is when the journey from despair to deliverance begins.

STAGE ONE: ARISE

(CATERPILLAR EGGS ARE LAID)

This stage is hard. It involves a complete shift in mindset. You have to stop believing the lies about yourself, God, and the enemy. You’ll spend a lot of time crying and questioning everything that you thought you knew about God and His plans for you. This is a great time to start journaling. Write down everything you think you know about God, yourself, the enemy, and your circumstance. Then start reading what the Bible has to say about each one.

I remember when I first started to really understand who God is and what that meant for me and my situation. I was frustrated at all the things I didn’t know. I was angry about the abuse I’d gone through and all the lies I’d been fed about myself and my God. That anger fueled my desire for the truth. The more I learned, the more peace and strength I gained.

When a butterfly lays its eggs you can already see the caterpillar inside. It hasn’t hatched yet but you can already see what it will become. The eggs are also laid on a leaf so that they have what they need to grow when they hatch.

This is the stage where you need to embrace your identity as a prayer warrior. I know that you may not feel like a warrior but you are. You already have everything you need to make it through this trial. God has already equipped you with the weapons you need to win this war.

STAGE TWO: GROW

(THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR)

This stage is characterized by a lot of spiritual growth and biblical disciplines. Once you embrace your identity as a prayer warrior you are ready to learn the basics on prayer during hard times. This is when you need to be in the Word daily, reading, studying and memorizing scripture. This is when you need to be praying daily and reaching out to your community. 

Caterpillars don’t stay in this stage for very long. All they do is eat and eat and eat. Preparing for the time when they begin to transform into a butterfly.

I couldn’t get enough of God during this time in my journey. I wanted to read and pray and be in church all the time. The more I learned about God the more I wanted to learn. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. I began to dig really deep into the Truth and I finally started to feel free.

Learning how to study the Word for myself meant that no one could ever use scripture to control or abuse me ever again. Memorizing verses meant that I could stand up to the enemy when he tried to paralyze me with fear. Being a part of a community meant that I was no longer isolated and alone. I found my strength. I found my voice. And I found my fight.

STAGE THREE: FIGHT

(CATERPILLAR GOES INTO A CHRYSALIS AND BEGINS TO TRANSFORM)

I’m going to be really honest here and tell you that stage three is hard. I read somewhere that when a butterfly goes into its chrysalis it has to completely liquify itself as part of the transformation. It becomes completely undone and unrecognizable before it becomes beautiful.

This is the stage where you have to really put up or shut up. Are you going to believe God and stand on His Word or are you going to quit?

This is when you have to face all your demons and doubts. This is when you have to learn to take every thought captive and manage your emotions for good. You have to face your fears, doubts, and feelings of overwhelm and shame.

When things seem to go from bad to worse you have to keep trusting and keep standing. You have to remember all the things you learned in stages one and two. They will carry you through this hard stage. In my experience, stage three lasts the longest. But it’s also where you will see the most growth.

STAGE FOUR: DREAM

(Butterfly Emerges and Flies Away)

This is the stage where you can start to breathe a little. You may still be in the middle of your trial but you are confident that you will have the victory. You know who you are and whose you are. You have conquered your emotions and battled doubts. At this point, you are at peace knowing that God is in control.

You are ready to start dreaming and hoping again! And the sky is the limit. You are not afraid to ask God for the impossible because you know that with Him all things are possible.

My favorite part about this stage is being able to encourage others. Sharing your testimony is a great way to help those who are in the first three stages to keep pressing in and holding on. You can show others how prayer during hard times is key to spiritual growth and victory.

What stage are you in?

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A week or so ago I put together a massive post with well over a hundred bible verses about money and talked about how we need to make sure that we always put God first in our lives before money – and everything else.

We can easily allow money to become our master, and God can quickly move to the background if we’re not careful.

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:24

One thing that occurred to me in the midst of listing all those verses, however, is that I never really touched on a topic that seems to be especially important right now in the midst of a double dip recession when so many people are having a hard time.  The idea of looking to God for strength in the midst of hard times.

Bible Verses About Strength

Today I decided to bring together some encouraging and challenging verses talking about how and where we need to find strength in the midst of turbulent times. I hope you find them uplifting as well.

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Where Do We Find Strength?

Where do we find our strength? In the Lord our God!

Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.

Nehemiah 8:10 Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Exodus 15:2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—  my father’s God, and I will exalt him!

Psalm 9:9-10 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 34:10b Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Isaiah 26: 3-4 Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.

1 Chronicles 16:11  Seek the LORD and his strength;  seek his presence continually!

Psalm 32:7-8 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Exodus 33:14 My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.

Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

Psalm 34:17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.

Isaiah 30:15 In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.

Don’t Worry Or Fear, Find Your Strength In Him

It can be so easy to give into worry, fear and despair, but with Him we can find strength, and look forward to wonderful things.  He gives us hope!

Isaiah 43:1-3 Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Luke 12:25-26 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Philippians 4:6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Psalm 34:4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 27: 1-3 The LORD is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me,it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;though war break out against me,even then I will be confident.

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Psalm 145: 18-19 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

God Gives Us A Spirit Of Strength And Power

Through faith in Christ we are given a spirit of power, love and discipline, and for that reason we have nothing to fear.  We can hold onto his promises and be confident that he’ll see us through even the darkest of days.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Psalm 138:3 When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.

Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Psalm 62:1-2 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Psalm 112: 1, 7-8 Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord. Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid.

Psalm 91:1-2 You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I trust.”

Psalm 112: 1, 7-8 Praise the Lord! Happy are those who fear the Lord. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord. Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid.

Hard Times May Come, But He’s There With Us Through Them All

Though we aren’t promised an easy life, we are told that Christ will be there with us when we believe in Him, that he won’t give us more than we can handle with His help,  and even our hard times can be used to glorify God.

2 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

Philippians 4: 12-13 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation . . . . I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

1 Peter 5: 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Hebrews 4:16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Deuteronomy 31:6,8 Be strong and bold; have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.

 Strength In Christ Our Lord And Savior

As the verses above illustrate, we’re told to call on Jesus Christ, and that he will hear us and give us strength, hope and a grace sufficient to carry us through.  He will be our ever present help when we’re in need, and he can give us a peace that passes all understanding.  For me that’s extremely encouraging.

How about you?  Do you have any favorite bible verses about strength, and where you can find it? Did one of the verses above stick out more than the others for you?  Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

Want to find more verses on Strength in the Bible and don’t have your own? Get a free Bible.

• Bible Verses About Money
• Bible Verses About Faith
• Bible Verses About Hope
• Bible Verses About Investing
• Bible Verses of Encouragement
• Bible Verses About How To Get Rich Quick
• Bible Verses About Contentment
• Bible Verses About Thanksgiving & Appreciation
• Bible Verses About Worry
• Bible Verses About Overcoming Adversity, Struggles And Hardship
• Bible Verses About Wealth

www.biblemoneymatters.com

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 ·  37 ratings  ·  18 reviews

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Definitely worth reading The last few years have been difficult-lost my husband, a parent, change in finances, and more. I needed to feel God’s presence and faith that I can meet tomorrow head-on. I will be revisiting this book often.

Jul 20, 2014 Jeanie

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it was amazing Linda Evans Shepherd is a woman of prayer, a beloved daughter of God. She, like many Christians, has endured severe crises that could have crushed her had she struggled through them on her own. In Praying through Hard Times, Linda shares not only crises in her lives and the lives of other Christians, she also shares a proven, Scripture-based help that she and countless others have tried. It isn’t easy, fun, or even what we feel capable of trying when life is difficult. It isn’t a methodical list Linda Evans Shepherd is a woman of prayer, a beloved daughter of God. She, like many Christians, has endured severe crises that could have crushed her had she struggled through them on her own. In Praying through Hard Times, Linda shares not only crises in her lives and the lives of other Christians, she also shares a proven, Scripture-based help that she and countless others have tried. It isn’t easy, fun, or even what we feel capable of trying when life is difficult. It isn’t a methodical list of tasks that, when checked off, removes the challenge(s) from our lives and resolves every hurtful situation as we want it to be. Rather, it is an encouragement to draw nearer to the heart of God and seek His healing, His will, and His life.
This is an outstanding book!! Praying through Hard Times is a valuable book with easy to read, proven, Scripture-based prayers, confessions, praise and worship to keep handy, read, and re-read through the challenges of life. The truth is there in the pages of Scripture – God longs for each of us to bring our troubles to Him, to confess our sins, and to praise and worship Him in the storms. This outstanding guide has shown this reader new ways to receive God’s grace and help in time of need.
Linda Evans Shepherd’s writing style is that of one Christian sister to another. She is willing to pull the covers off of her own life in such a way as to invite the reader to be willing to uncover their own attitudes or mindsets that need to be changed through the power of prayer.
Each chapter includes Bible-based prayers, truths about our Lord that He would have us to know, a Trip to the Oasis – prayers and praises through the Psalms applicable to the chapter subject, and a specific Prayer Experience to draw closer to the heart of God applicable to the situation. There are links to on-line teachings related to each chapter. At the end of the book is a study that includes questions for each chapter in which one can enter into alone or with a Bible study group. I am so very thankful and blessed that the Lord has gifted us with this invitation to come closer to Him through Linda Evans Shepherd, and I believe that you will be, also.
I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.
…more About the Book:

Linda Evans Shepherd shows how God’s answers to prayer may not come packaged in the ways we would expect, but they do come in ways that will transform our lives. This book will be a comfort to those who struggle with faith yet still dare to believe that God cares. Through solid biblical teaching and true stories of answered prayer, Shepherd walks with readers on a journey to renewed hope.

About the Author:

Linda Evans Shepherd is an award-winning author, a successful speaker, and a

About the Book:

Linda Evans Shepherd shows how God’s answers to prayer may not come packaged in the ways we would expect, but they do come in ways that will transform our lives. This book will be a comfort to those who struggle with faith yet still dare to believe that God cares. Through solid biblical teaching and true stories of answered prayer, Shepherd walks with readers on a journey to renewed hope.

About the Author:

Linda Evans Shepherd is an award-winning author, a successful speaker, and a radio personality. The president of Right to the Heart Ministries, she is the author of When You Don’t Know What to Pray and Experiencing God’s Presence. She lives in Colorado. For more, visit www.sheppro.com.

My Review:

Praising God during the hard times as well as in the good times proves to be very difficult. But the further you get to God’s loving presence, you will soon see how easy it is to love him, and declare His mighty name even in the darkest of situations. God is good ALL the time, not just in the good times that He blesses us with. Many of us struggle with faith and trust in God but as Christians we long to have that peace and that piece of the puzzle that seems so foreign to many believers.

The author has such a sweet, life affirming, and inspiring word to reach those of us that struggle to see God in all things. He is our source of strength and hope. Without Him we will struggle till our dying breathe. My husband and I are right now in our church getting ready for a major move, the move is one of member of a church to ministerial intern for 2 years until my husband will then become an ordained minister. We have overcome and still face many more things to over come in this process of conditioning us for a Pastorate role. It has been a gradual process, but oh so painful, as well.

God has been using this transition time as a time of stripping away the old, set in our ways selves to bring us in line to what He wanted to do in our lives for this new time in our lives. It has been amazing looking back to see the changes that we weren’t sure we could even go through. He is such a loving Father that even though it was hard at times, we did our best not to falter. This book is a great encouragement to those in the troubling, hard times that occur every day. The author speaks right to the heart in a very loving, true way!

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Book Fun.

…more Jun 27, 2014 Janice Garey

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it was amazing Review Title: When Words are Hard to Find, This Book Will Help (review of Praying through Hard Times by Linda Evans Shepherd)
Reviewer: Janice S. Garey
*****5 Stars
Praying through Hard Times reaches into your life like a helping hand when a flash flood enters and tries to sweep you away. It is based on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. It will help a person recognize God’s presence in their life, expecially during the waiting times when many feel like giving up on God. Linda Evans Shepherd ge Review Title: When Words are Hard to Find, This Book Will Help (review of Praying through Hard Times by Linda Evans Shepherd)
Reviewer: Janice S. Garey
*****5 Stars
Praying through Hard Times reaches into your life like a helping hand when a flash flood enters and tries to sweep you away. It is based on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. It will help a person recognize God’s presence in their life, expecially during the waiting times when many feel like giving up on God. Linda Evans Shepherd gets personal with the reader as she relates her disappointments and hurts and shares how God managed to give her a change of attitude if not circumstances. She relates how what seemed to be horrible treatment by certain insensitive people hurt her feelings greatly, yet over time she recognized that if those things had not happened that she never would have discovered the special calling to a writing and speaking ministry.
I am thankful to have Praying through Hard Times for its hopeful message that prayer does make a tremendous difference. It is a wonderful resource to use when words escape the thought process because a problem seems so over-whelming. That can be for yourself or for someone else who asks you to pray for them. I do a lot of prayer intercession myself, and this book is a help for me to see more clearly ways I can pray. It is a good book for those who are newly learning about praying. They will advance much faster in the maturity of their prayer life with this book as a guide.
The cover of the book is beautiful as it reminds of God being the Creator of all things good. He gives His children good gifts, and I consider Praying through Hard Times to be one of His excellent gifts communicated through the talents of Linda Evans Shepherd. I have already thought of several people who are in the middle of waiting for prayers to be answered who could benefit greatly from the wisdom and prayers in this book.
I received Praying through Hard Times from bookfun.org in exchange for my honest review after reading it. The book is a treasure to use as a resource as needs arise. Many who are looking to go deeper in their prayer life will benefit from reading Praying through Hard Times. …more Jun 09, 2014 Sharee

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it was amazing Praying Through the Hard Times is a wonderful “go to” book for prayer guidance and instruction. It is a great study resource as well as it incorporates a discussion guide and bible study. With short videos that correspond to each chapter, Praying Through The Hard Times gives the reader a thought provoking visual lesson. Through stories (sometimes absolutely hilarious, other times, hair raising scary), Ms. Shepherd teaches that although life can be difficult, Christians have an open door to God. Praying Through the Hard Times is a wonderful “go to” book for prayer guidance and instruction. It is a great study resource as well as it incorporates a discussion guide and bible study. With short videos that correspond to each chapter, Praying Through The Hard Times gives the reader a thought provoking visual lesson. Through stories (sometimes absolutely hilarious, other times, hair raising scary), Ms. Shepherd teaches that although life can be difficult, Christians have an open door to God. Through prayer and understanding God’s presence, He makes all things bearable.
I began marking places within the book that I found especially good and ended up marking three quarters of the entire book! Each chapter offered lessons on how to handle tough areas of life. One of the best parts of the book, is that Ms. Shepherd teaches practical ways of not only surviving difficult areas but how to breakthrough and overcome those hindrances which prevent believers from moving to the next level.
In sharing her own life stories and the challenges she has faced with her daughter’s disabilities, Ms. Shepherd shows that prayer does matter even when the prayers aren’t answered in the way we thought they should be. She shows how accepting God on His terms and seeing the beautiful things He brings from the ashes of disappointment and sorrow build a deeper faith.
One of my favorite stories is about a bat that gets caught in the building where the women are worshipping and how God shows Ms. Shepherd a lesson in spiritual warfare in the crazy unexpected event. She says, “Here’s what I learned from this experience: just because you walk with God doesn’t mean circumstances will never drive you batty. But the key is to focus more deeply on God.” She goes on to talk about the consequences of not focusing on God.
Praying Through the Hard Times is a great read and one that I would recommend. The book and its teaching are helpful in showing how to handle the hard times when they come and how to prevent additional heartache before they come.
I received this book from the Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion. …more Jun 09, 2014 A.C. Cuddy

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it was amazing

“No matter what the hurt, there is always, always hope. The storms of life visit us all, and at times we find ourselves ill prepared to weather them. Where is God when everything comes crashing down? Where is he when a job is lost? When a child goes astray? When the diagnosis is caner? Does he truly care?” This book, Praying Through Hard Times, is a book that you will want to keep close. As we know, typically it’s not “if” we will have troubled or hard times… it’s “when” we will have troubled or

“No matter what the hurt, there is always, always hope. The storms of life visit us all, and at times we find ourselves ill prepared to weather them. Where is God when everything comes crashing down? Where is he when a job is lost? When a child goes astray? When the diagnosis is caner? Does he truly care?” This book, Praying Through Hard Times, is a book that you will want to keep close. As we know, typically it’s not “if” we will have troubled or hard times… it’s “when” we will have troubled or hard times.

With her usual easy and friendly style, the author, Linda Evans Shepherd, uses stories from her own life to encourage and inspire the reader to not just bring their fears, worries, concerns, and issues of life to God… but to know that all of it will be answered. It may not be answered in a way that we recognize at the time… but answered nonetheless.

Throughout each chapter, we are given sound biblical principles’ and prayers to help us to walk through our own painful hard times to help us to draw closer to God than we have ever been. And in those times… we rest in His promises.

As the author says… “God’s answers to prayer may not come packaged in the ways we would expect, but they do come in ways that will transform our lives.”

For more information about the Author and other books she has written, go to: www.sheppro.com

*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through the “For Readers Only” group at The Book Club Network, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

*Reviews of this book were posted at the following locations:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Deeper Shopping, Goodreads, and on my blog at /> …more May 22, 2014 ChrisGA

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it was amazing The author uses a friendly, conversational style of writing that encourages and inspires. We all know hard times-those times that we know God is with us and, more devastating, times when we only feel alone. This book takes the reader step by step through strategies and Biblical reminders to help a wounded, troubled soul find peace, comfort and guidance from the One who heals and upholds. Each chapter contains Scripture passages, appropriate meditations from the Psalms and specific prayers to ena The author uses a friendly, conversational style of writing that encourages and inspires. We all know hard times-those times that we know God is with us and, more devastating, times when we only feel alone. This book takes the reader step by step through strategies and Biblical reminders to help a wounded, troubled soul find peace, comfort and guidance from the One who heals and upholds. Each chapter contains Scripture passages, appropriate meditations from the Psalms and specific prayers to enable the reader to reconnect and recommit to the source of our strength. Bible study questions and links to video supplement this study. The videos provide another medium for transmitting the content of the lessons for someone who just doesn’t seem up to reading a book.
I highly recommend this devotional to anyone, whether in a valley or freshly on a mountain top. It directs us to God’s promises and our knowledge of who He is and whose we are rather than limiting us to the way we are feeling. When we are faced with debilitating sorrow or worry, it takes a clear, confident message to get through the fog of emotion, and the author makes it known that she has walked on this path herself. The whole package makes the reader feel that a Christian friend is sharing what she has learned in her own struggles. I received this book through the Book Club Network in exchange for this my honest opinion.
…more May 23, 2014 Pamela Jo

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it was amazing Comforting Words…

Linda Evans Shepherd has endured tragic times and in her latest book, she shares thoughts about praying through the dark days of life. I found “Praying Through Hard Times” to be a very helpful and comforting guide to seeking God when we need him most.

During times of crisis, Christians all turn to God. Sometimes we even question God’s reasons for allowing bad things to happen. When we really need comfort, we need to know how to pray. This book gives the reader a kind of “road m

Comforting Words…

Linda Evans Shepherd has endured tragic times and in her latest book, she shares thoughts about praying through the dark days of life. I found “Praying Through Hard Times” to be a very helpful and comforting guide to seeking God when we need him most.

During times of crisis, Christians all turn to God. Sometimes we even question God’s reasons for allowing bad things to happen. When we really need comfort, we need to know how to pray. This book gives the reader a kind of “road map” with directions on reaching out to God during difficult times.

In this book, you will find prayers for many different circumstances. There is also a Bible Study at the end of the book which reviews each chapter and asks the reader to answer questions about what they have read. Some of the chapters include help with praying for hope and healing, turning over your troubles to God, and finding peace through prayer. Throughout the book, there are prayers and Bible verses which are very helpful. If you are seeking peace and understanding in your life, “Praying Through Hard Times” will be a very valuable addition to your bookshelf.

I highly recommend this book. It helped me to learn how to pray when I’m not exactly sure what to pray or how to do it. It will lead you through trying times and will give you hope when you feel hopeless.

I received this book from the publisher, through The Book Club Network (bookfun.org) in exchange for my honest review.

…more Jun 15, 2014 Nancee

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really liked it

Recommended to Nancee by: [email protected]

We all struggle through difficult times, sometimes insurmountable obstacles overwhelming us. Having the strength to let go and let God can be challenging during those times. The enemy lurks, wanting us to give up. “Praying through Hard Times” reveals powerful tools to seek and connect with God during those times when hope seems far from our grasp.

Each chapter in this inspiring book reveals practical methods to put to use in our daily prayer lives. The chapters begin with a quotation from a famou

We all struggle through difficult times, sometimes insurmountable obstacles overwhelming us. Having the strength to let go and let God can be challenging during those times. The enemy lurks, wanting us to give up. “Praying through Hard Times” reveals powerful tools to seek and connect with God during those times when hope seems far from our grasp.

Each chapter in this inspiring book reveals practical methods to put to use in our daily prayer lives. The chapters begin with a quotation from a famous spiritual source, and an example of difficult times that the author has experienced in her life. A “trip to the oasis” is a quotation from the Psalms that can be read as a prayer, culminating into a “prayer experience.”

“Praying through Hard Times” presents some simple and helpful techniques to focus on through the tough times in life when we need to seek strength through prayer. I found some very useful concepts and methods to connect spiritually through the routines expressed in this book. I recommend it for focusing on a strong and meaningful prayer life.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Revell through the Book Fun For Readers Only program in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

…more Praying Through Hard Times, by Linda Evans Shepherd, grabbed me from the beginning as she invited me into her life and some of the struggles she has faced in this lifetime. I have read many books about how to triumph through difficulties and God has been teaching our family His truths through a somewhat difficult path this past year and I have to say, I was really encouraged by her book as she reiterated a lot of what God has been teaching me already. It was great to see how she drew me in with Praying Through Hard Times, by Linda Evans Shepherd, grabbed me from the beginning as she invited me into her life and some of the struggles she has faced in this lifetime. I have read many books about how to triumph through difficulties and God has been teaching our family His truths through a somewhat difficult path this past year and I have to say, I was really encouraged by her book as she reiterated a lot of what God has been teaching me already. It was great to see how she drew me in with her own personal struggles, pointed me toward God’s Word and what He says, all while encouraging, inspiring, and coming alongside me as the reader through my own difficulties. She doesn’t sugarcoat things but talks about how everyone who lives in this world will eventually face difficulties. This is a book that is great to read alone or with a group of friends, one friend, or a whole Bible study. I have already pointed another friend toward this book as she is facing uncertainty in her life as well. So many people are hurting – this is a great book to recommend to help them keep focused on the One who truly can help and heal.

I received this book for free from BookClubNetwork in exchange for my honest review.

…more Jun 26, 2014 Becky Lewis

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it was amazing Seek God wholeheartedly; be amazed by answers.

Praying Through Hard Times is an encouraging book, written to remind us that we can have God’s peace and presence in the most difficult of circumstances. Linda Evans Shepherd uses plenty of examples from her own life and from others’, showing how God will work through our circumstances to transform us as we seek HIM, not just a particular answer to prayer.

Shepherd talks about finding God in our circumstances, praying against the spirit of strife, and Seek God wholeheartedly; be amazed by answers.

Praying Through Hard Times is an encouraging book, written to remind us that we can have God’s peace and presence in the most difficult of circumstances. Linda Evans Shepherd uses plenty of examples from her own life and from others’, showing how God will work through our circumstances to transform us as we seek HIM, not just a particular answer to prayer.

Shepherd talks about finding God in our circumstances, praying against the spirit of strife, and praying for breakthroughs, among other topics. Memorable ideas are boxed off to the side. Each chapter has a “Trip to the Oasis”, a prayer of the Psalmist; and a suggested prayer following; plus a link to a corresponding video. There are discussion questions at the end of the book. Great for a group or personal study.

Two of my favorite take-aways:”The more you focus on your circumstances, the greater the chance your circumstances can and will hurt you.” And,”You’re going to get a miracle whether He changes your circumstances or He changes you. The key is to seek God’s face with your whole heart.”

Thanks to bookfun.org which provided this book in exchange for an honest review.

…more Praying through Hard Times
By: Linda Evans Shepherd

Linda Evans Shepherd shows how God’s answers to prayer may not come packaged in the ways we would expect, but they do come in ways that will transform our lives. This book will be a comfort to those who struggle with faith yet still dare to believe that God cares. Through solid biblical teaching and true stories of answered prayer, Shepherd walks with readers on a journey to renewed hope.

Another great study guide by Linda Evans Shepherd. During t

Praying through Hard Times
By: Linda Evans Shepherd

Linda Evans Shepherd shows how God’s answers to prayer may not come packaged in the ways we would expect, but they do come in ways that will transform our lives. This book will be a comfort to those who struggle with faith yet still dare to believe that God cares. Through solid biblical teaching and true stories of answered prayer, Shepherd walks with readers on a journey to renewed hope.

Another great study guide by Linda Evans Shepherd. During the hard times is when we see where we most hand things over to God give him all our burdens and worries. Easy to say but not so easy to do. Through this book Linda shows us how we can do this. Even when we are in our deepest valley we can draw closer to God. Prayer is the big key. Our prayers may not even be answered the way we think they should. God does know what is best for our lives.

I love how Linda has written the book. Discussion, Prayer experience, their are also video sites to go too. In the back of the book is a Bible study and Discussion Guide. Bible verses to help out through out.

I would recommend it as a group study. I really enjoyed the study.

…more Jul 26, 2014 Debora Wilder

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really liked it I received a free copy of this book through The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

Great directions for finding strength in God’s presence.

Each chapter in this book was very well presented. They were full of wonderful points and insights. I liked the fact that a lot of scripture was used to support the points that were made. I also enjoyed the examples from the author’s life, as well as other women she had contact with. The one downside for me in this book is that some of the ch

I received a free copy of this book through The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

Great directions for finding strength in God’s presence.

Each chapter in this book was very well presented. They were full of wonderful points and insights. I liked the fact that a lot of scripture was used to support the points that were made. I also enjoyed the examples from the author’s life, as well as other women she had contact with. The one downside for me in this book is that some of the chapters did not seem to fit together very well. At times this was a distraction that I had to struggle to get past.

I do recommend this book to anyone that has ever had to, or will have to, go through hard times of any kind. Since we are all humans living in an imperfect world that should include all of us.

…more Jul 20, 2014 Crystal Scott

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really liked it Praying Through Hard Times
By Linda Evans Shepherd

How many of us find it hard to always pray during the hard times we go through? I know I am guilty of this but I know that prayer is the only way I am going to get through the hard times. In Praying Through Hard Times, Ms. Shepherd will show you how to see God in those times of trouble. Written from her own experiences, Ms. Shepherd offers strategies for surviving those times, tells us to give up the worrying and stress and to pray through the pai

Praying Through Hard Times
By Linda Evans Shepherd

How many of us find it hard to always pray during the hard times we go through? I know I am guilty of this but I know that prayer is the only way I am going to get through the hard times. In Praying Through Hard Times, Ms. Shepherd will show you how to see God in those times of trouble. Written from her own experiences, Ms. Shepherd offers strategies for surviving those times, tells us to give up the worrying and stress and to pray through the pain and finding peace. Peace that is only offered through Jesus Christ.

Hard times will always happen but we don’t have to through them alone.

Thank you to BookFun.org for providing me with a copy of this book for my honest review.

…more Jun 08, 2014 Linda Ortiz

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really liked it Linda Evans Shepherd, Praying through Hard Times was book about hope, trust, and faith in God. How to pray and seek God through difficult times through life journeys. Reading this book brought back clarification of things I already knew. Helping me to have more faith in Christ through my hard times. Linda talks about her experiences and difficulties in life that helped her trust in God. I received this book from The Book Club Network to review. I recommend this book to everyone who is struggling Linda Evans Shepherd, Praying through Hard Times was book about hope, trust, and faith in God. How to pray and seek God through difficult times through life journeys. Reading this book brought back clarification of things I already knew. Helping me to have more faith in Christ through my hard times. Linda talks about her experiences and difficulties in life that helped her trust in God. I received this book from The Book Club Network to review. I recommend this book to everyone who is struggling or not struggling, but need tools to help you in your Christian walk. Read this book! You will be enlightened and encouraged. …more This is a great book to read in small intervals so you can digest what you are reading. You can also try some of the examples. My favorite part was to show love to others is to show God’s presence. It will also be a better world if we all have pure hearts and are true and kind. I have read books like this before, but it was too hard to follow along. However this author uses every day situations that I could relate to and it made it a lot easier to try. This book also made me think about how I ha This is a great book to read in small intervals so you can digest what you are reading. You can also try some of the examples. My favorite part was to show love to others is to show God’s presence. It will also be a better world if we all have pure hearts and are true and kind. I have read books like this before, but it was too hard to follow along. However this author uses every day situations that I could relate to and it made it a lot easier to try. This book also made me think about how I have acted in the past, and how I will in the future. I am giving this book a 4/5. I was given a copy to review by The Book Club Network Inc., however all opinions are my own. …more Jun 24, 2014 Joan

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it was amazing This is a very encouraging book. Shepherd does more than just cover prayer. She writes from her own experience, having a child with severe disabilities. What she has learned in her own Christian walk is encouraging and gives hope. The book gives the Christian a good strategy for trusting God and abiding with Him during difficult times. Potential readers should know that she has experienced visions and seen the reality of demons.
See my full review at />I received a complimenta This is a very encouraging book. Shepherd does more than just cover prayer. She writes from her own experience, having a child with severe disabilities. What she has learned in her own Christian walk is encouraging and gives hope. The book gives the Christian a good strategy for trusting God and abiding with Him during difficult times. Potential readers should know that she has experienced visions and seen the reality of demons.
See my full review at />I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Book Club Network for the purpose of an independent and honest review. …more Jun 03, 2014 Chris

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it was amazing

This is a great bible study book on a subject we all need to know
We arent promised a Rose Garden. We are promised that he will be right beside us as we go through trials
God bless you
Chris Granville
I was given this book from TBCN and Revell Publishers for my honest review

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